by Sherie Keys
“I’m a free man. I didn’t think this day would ever come.”
Lucas nodded. “Me either. Mom and dad are going to be happy to see you.” He high-fived his brother.
“Damn, I haven’t been to New York in years. Catherine, you’re going to need to give me a tour to remind me where everything is again.”
She laughed. “You got it, when can we go? Not that I’m opposed to more beach time…” She looked to his leg then back to him. “Or couch time.”
He shook his head and took her hand with a gentle touch. “As soon as I can walk, we’re heading home.”
***
Over the next couple of weeks, Michael worked to regain his strength in the injured leg. He had been incredibly lucky, as his nerve didn’t suffer any damage and within a short amount of time, he was up and walking. At first, he had a cane to help support his weakened side, Lucas joking he should keep it as an accessory. But he was determined, and within only a month, he was walking without even a limp.
News had spread like wildfire about not only Michael’s case, but the success of their latest invention. While he was in recovery, he was being bombarded with emails, calls, and messages about both situations. He finally decided to get a publicist to handle the majority of it and focused on getting the robotic assist to the States for more desperate cases.
Catherine was at his side the entire time. She helped him find more cases, worked with other doctors who were flown in to learn how to use it, and began putting together an educational course on the entire machine with the help of her team and the tech department. Only a month before, their world had been rocked by the appearance of Ricky Barber, but now they stood together, stronger than ever.
Lucas had continued to improve. He had only sustained minimal injuries in the attack, and as more time passed and the scans continued to come back clear, they were able to give him more freedom. He was now back to work full time. His latest idea was to tackle a scanner that could fit in the palm of your hand. It would allow doctors, paramedics, and any other health professional to peer into an MRI-like scan, without having to haul a patient off to a big machine.
He and Michael had talked, and since both loved the spot in Havana, they had no desire to sell it. Lucas told his brother he actually wished to stay for another year. Now that Michael could go in and out of the States, he wanted to head the Cuban facility. Michael had agreed and, with that, began to search for a new manufacturing building and lab space in New York. He was happy to find one right outside Cornell; the University offered students and professors its programs, and it was near the Finger Lakes where Catherine had her cabin. He had purchased it without a second thought.
It was their last day in Havana, and Catherine didn’t think there was a better way to spend it then how they had decided to do so. Michael, Alberto, and she were at the local dog shelter. They stared at the rows of dogs that jumped and barked excitedly as they walked by, each one too cute to pass up.
Alberto gave her a nervous look. “You think it’s the right time?”
She nodded with a warm smile. “Alberto, yes. Rascal will miss you, but I want you to miss him a little less. In order to do that, it’s time you find your new best friend.”
He gave her a grin in return. “Okay, you’re right, Dr. Ruby. But there are so many!” he gestured toward the rows of dogs.
“I have a feeling you’ll know which one to pick.” Michael winked at him as he stood behind Catherine, hands on her shoulders as they waited for the older gentleman to begin looking at dogs.
“Alright, alright…” He began to shuffle down the aisle, pausing in front of each pen and looking at the dog inside.
It took some time, but he finally came to a larger kennel at the end. Inside, there was an older shepherd mix. One ear was up in a triangle, the other folded down. One eye was blue, the other brown. He was coal black, with tan eyebrows and a white collar and toes. His muzzle had begun to grey, and he wasn’t quite as energetic as the others. Alberto looked to him, smiled, and turned back to Catherine and Michael.
“This one.”
A short time later, they walked out the door with Alberto leading Icarus at his steady shuffle. The two were a perfect match—they went at the same pace of life, and Icarus looked to him with big eyes, full of love. They estimated he was eight years old, but he was in perfect health. He had been at the shelter for over a year; sadly, no one had wanted to take the older dog home.
Rascal waited excitedly in the car, and he gave a yip as he saw his family return, a new friend in tow. They sniffed noses and seemed to enjoy each other’s company. Alberto reached down and gave Rascal a scratch behind the ears. “I will miss you, my friend. But, you must come back and visit sometime.” His gaze went to Catherine and Michael. “Along with you two.”
They laughed and chatted for a bit longer as the sun began to set. They knew their flight would be ready early the next morning, and it was time to bid Alberto goodbye.
Catherine reached her arms around him and gave him a tight hug. “Rascal and I will miss you, but we promise to stay in touch.”
He chuckled. “Of course, I want lots of pictures of him at the park.”
She nodded. “You send me lots of you and Icarus, he’s got some time to make up for.”
The older man reached down and gave his dog a scratch, and Icarus’ big eyes looked up lovingly as he wagged his fluffy tail.
“Oh, we will. I have a new driving partner, he won’t be going anywhere without me.”
He looked up at Michael, and they smiled at one another. Then Michael grabbed him in a bear hug, the older man gasping for air. “It has been a pleasure, Mr. Francis.”
“Pleasure has been all mine, Alberto. You take care of yourself and go take Icarus to see pretty ladies at the market!” he laughed as they walked toward their car. Rascal gave a pull at his leash as they separated, giving one last bark to Alberto.
“Take care, friends.”
With a wave, they loaded into the Bel Air and headed back toward the estate.
*
Catherine placed the last shirt into her suitcase. It had been so long since she had arrived, she could hardly remember what she had originally packed. Three months in Havana—the number still astonished her. So much had happened in that time, that she had trouble wrapping her mind around it. She never imagined it turning out the way it did.
She looked up to see Michael folding his pants; the grey slacks tucked under his bearded chin, he looked at her with those deep, blue eyes. He stood in only his briefs, the small scar on his thigh finally looking like a healed wound. She stared at him, until he noticed and flashed her a smirk. “What is it?”
She sighed and collapsed on the bed. “You.”
He gave her a curious tilt of the head then lay down next to her. “What about me?” he asked with a raised brow.
She reached up and kissed him, her fingers stroking his beard and tenderly pulling him close. He returned the affection as he slid a hand to her cheek and caressed her face. She released her lips but pressed her forehead to his with her eyes still closed.
“I love you,” she whispered, the words still making her heart flutter in excitement.
“I love you too, beautiful,” he responded as he pulled her in close for another kiss.
His hands guided her to lie atop him, while her lips worked over his, then down his neck and chest. He chuckled and found himself suddenly intrigued by her seduction. She felt him stiffen beneath her touch, and she looked up at him with hungry eyes, biting her lip with a playful smile. He reached down and pulled off his briefs, his dick already hard and throbbing for her.
She got up on her knees, then reached down and pulled her shirt over her head, releasing her breasts from the confines of the fabric. He let out a hum of enjoyment, reaching up and squeezing her peaks until she hissed in pleasure. With delicate fingers, she worked off her loose shorts to reveal her lacy, white thong beneath. He gave a growl and ran a large, curious finger along the ed
ge.
His eyes met hers with a pout. “You’re wearing too many clothes.”
She giggled. “Oh, am I?”
He nodded. “Mhmm, you’ll need to remove these.”
He snapped the elastic band of the thong then she reached down and tugged that off as well.
“Better?” she asked inquisitively.
“Much,” he responded with a grin.
She lowered herself back down to his lips and kissed him tenderly, while his hands trailed down her back to her ass. She began to work her way down his neck, collarbone, pecs, and abs until she reached the V of his groin. She lingered there for a moment, teasing him as he gave her a pleading look. Her tongue worked at the base of his shaft, then slowly traced up to the head, making him flinch in excitement. She suddenly took him deep, and a moan of pleasure hummed from his chest as she worked his pulsing cock.
Unable to stand the sensation any longer, he grabbed her with those big, strong hands and hauled her atop him. He scooted her forward until his lips met her pussy, then he looked up at her as he slowly traced her swollen cherry with soft strokes of his tongue. She let herself give in to the feeling of satisfaction.
Her hips relaxed and leaned into his swipes of perfection. It made her grow even more eager. She was becoming soaked from his touch. His fingertip delicately massaged behind her clit, and the dual pressure made her squirm with anticipation, her eyes blazing with desire as she looked down to watch him eat her out some more.
He gave her a mischievous smile, and she laughed as he kissed and nipped at her thighs, then slid her down and positioned her to mount his dick.
“Are you all fucking wet for me?” he asked as he held her there, his shaft teasing her slick clit.
She nodded quickly. “So wet.”
“Mmm,” he growled, his eyes locked with hers as he continued to tease her soft, wet, warmth with his hardness.
She gasped as he pushed just a little bit in, then ducked a bit to prolong the sensation. She gave him a pout, her lips pursed and her eyes narrowed.
“I need you, now,” she demanded, as his eyes watched her intensely.
“Say please,” he told her.
She bit her lip and then pushed down hard against his grip. His dick slipped inside her, and she screamed in bliss then looked down at him with shining eyes.
“Please.” She smiled coyly.
They began their rhythm, their hips working in unison as he sought for that perfect spot, wanting to stroke it just right. Her eyes rolled back—it felt so damn good. He reached up and rubbed her tits then his hands slowly traced her curves down to her behind where he gave it a hard squeeze.
“Love watching you up there,” he growled out as he smacked her ass, the slap sharp but arousing.
“Yeah?” she asked as she rocked harder onto his dick. The pressure on her clit was just right, and she felt the orgasm stirring deep within her center.
He nodded. “Fuck yeah.”
“Goood,” she purred as she leaned her head back and let instinct take over. Her moans became louder as he pressed right on her g-spot, her clit stimulated and her slick, wet pussy reverberating with every thrust.
She began to rock faster, and his hips worked harder, the feeling of being inside of her too good to resist. She went down hard and felt him hit her extra deep, the feeling sending a flood of new gratification through her body. Every nerve began to tingle, stemming from her warm middle where the orgasm that gnawed at her being grew to an all-encompassing inferno. She was engulfed in his passion and knew his hungry eyes watched her as his own intense feeling of need pushed him closer and closer to the edge of a sexual explosion.
Their eyes met. His lip was pulled back in a growl as she looked down, biting her lip seductively. He felt himself stir, as did she. With a scream, she felt the spasms shoot through her, the joyride coming to a head as the thrill and satisfaction buzzed through every cell in her body. As he watched her come all over his dick, he felt his own delight explode. His balls tightened, and with a series of pulses, he let himself go to the thrusts of pleasure.
Her motions began to slow, and her animalistic calls died down. Breathless and sweating, she collapsed panting onto his chest. His chest rose and fell in quick motions, the twitches in his dick slowed, and he felt himself relax as the bliss spread to his body. He placed his hand on her back and lazily rubbed between her shoulders as they lay there in absolute contentment.
“So, how was that?” he asked as he kissed her head.
She chuckled. “Not too shabby.”
He kissed her again. “Yeah, I’d have to agree.”
Catherine snuggled closer to him, his arms draped over her body as he pulled her as close as she could manage. She rested her head under his chin and breathed in his deep, warm scent. He closed his eyes with a smile and continued to stroke her back in an affectionate gesture.
“Are you excited to go home?” he asked softly.
She gave a small nod. “I am, but mostly because you’ll be joining me.”
He smiled at her response. “Yeah, we make a pretty good team, don’t we?”
“The best,” she replied.
“I’m going to miss Havana a bit. It’s really become my home over the past few years,” he mused, his eyes tracing the ceiling as he spoke.
“I understand. Lucky for you, we can always come back and visit.” She looked warmly up at him.
He kissed her forehead. “And we will. I’m truly looking forward to heading to New York, meeting your family and friends, seeing my family and old friends. It’s almost surreal.”
She paused. “As surreal as an exiled billionaire inviting you to Havana to perform brain surgery on his brother’s inoperable tumor?” she quipped with a smirk.
His smile faltered, transforming into a faux frown. “Well, when you put it like that, I guess not.”
They both chuckled, and she snuggled back into the crook of his neck, his body like a delicious blanket. He took a deep breath; her scent clung to his nose, and he relished the moment.
“We have a hell of a story, that’s for sure.”
“Those are the best ones, who else can say they faced a rogue FBI agent?”
He paused. “Or learned how to use a new robotic assist to remove a brain tumor?”
“Or built it?”
“Or was the first doctor to use it?”
He squeezed her tight. “I think we both win.”
“Fair enough,” she replied with a kiss that nuzzled his beard.
The evening settled around them, the soft crash of waves filtering through the window with the salty air of the ocean. The final rays of the day faded away to twilight, the dark violets, emeralds, and navy blues sinking behind the horizon as the dark, inky blanket of night began to come into focus. Catherine looked out the window. The little, bright speck of stardust began to appear as the thin, crescent moon rose to bid them goodnight and farewell.
“Thank you,” her words broke the silence, and he gave her a confused look.
“For what?” he asked with a raised brow.
She propped herself up on his chest and gazed at him with half-lidded, warm eyes. “Everything.”
His hand pulled her in for another kiss, and she tenderly returned it. He gently pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers again in a loving gesture.
“You’re welcome. And thank you, beautiful.”
She kissed the tip of his nose playfully then traveled to his lips where she lingered for a few moments before looking to those dark, blue pools of his.
“For what?” she asked in the same tone he had.
He smiled and caressed her cheek, his absolute adoration for her pouring from his soul. His eyes studied her with pure devotion, as if nothing else in the world mattered but her, and in that moment, she felt absolutely complete. She kissed him again as he seemed to pause on his answer, and when she released him from her lips, he smiled back at her with warm sentiment.
“For loving me.”
; He pulled her close. Her head rested above his heart, and she heard the beat like a rhythmic drum. She felt tears of emotion well in her eyes and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight and soaking in the perfect moment. In a world full of pain, chaos, angst, and sorrow, they had found one another and, in return, found complete and utter love.
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